Process for the preparation of ketones.



7 ever, been.

- the interaction I usually prepared 'steanc, mon-tan1c, cerot-ic, and

PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF KETONES.

3N0 Drawing.

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that MIILICENT TAYLOR, citizens of the Dominion and residents of Wellington, in the Provincial District of Wellington, in the Dominion of New Zealand, have Invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for the 'hreparation of Ketones,

of which the following 1s a specification.

The ketones of the higher fatty acids are barl'umsalts of these acids in small portions to a high temperature. r v I Stearic acid heated alone distils for the most part unchanged butsome stearone is formed during. the process. It is also known that when stearicacid is distilled with magnesium powder in cacao at as low a temperature "as possible, liquid and solid hydrocarbons result together with stearone and it has been surmised. that since easily oxidized metals in general yield similar hydrocarbons when heated with stearic acid the produotion of 'theseihydrocarbons is the preliminaryforma tion of steal-one. It is also known that the vapors of the lower-fatty acids from acetic to nonoic acid yield ketones whenpassed over -zinc dust or reduced iron at a suitable temperature. .It has not, howknown that under suitable con ditions, ketones are the chief products of of the saturated higher fatty acids, with many 'metals. Nor can Wefind any record that a higher than of the theoretical can be by any method obtained from stearic acid. N or-can recordof the preparation of theketone of montanic acid or of the ketones of the higher unsaturated fatty. acids suchas oleic,

e urated elaidic, erucic or brassidic acids.

. fatty acids, for example, palmitic, melissic, be heated with cast iron turnings to a temperature which does not attain the temperature of rapid decomposition of the ketone sought and the temperature'maintained until the s evolution of carbon dioxid becomes slow large yield of production of the ketone of the acid .em ployed is produced; For example in the commercial stearone we talge commercial stearin (commercial stearlc acid) and heat it with about one tenthof its weight of Specification ot l'lett ers Patent. Application filed- April 0, 1911.

g we, THOMAS HILL EAs-' annrmno and CLARA of New Zealand,

by heating the calcium or also due to yield of stearone" Patented Apr; 8.191s; Serial no. 619,425, i

1; 1s maintained oxid, ,the' yield of 'ketone is of the weight of the stearic acid taken. ing point and purity of the product depend upon the purity of the stearin employed. Pure stearic acid yields practically pure istearone; Commercial stearone thus re pared is, after melting and solidification, a waxy material of high melting point-it is an excellent hardener and stearin candles and can be used as a' The chief advantages of'the process are (1.) The yield --of-'ketone is. high. .(2.-) Largequantities can be made 'in a-sing'le o ration.

irectly from the general more easily prepared than their salts. (4.) The contact -substancef-irdn turnirigs-is-cheap. (5.) The. plant required for the manufacture "simple.

If unsaturated fatty acids are em the hitherto undescribed ketones or loyed these have discovered that if the higher satketones of, the unsaturated acids. is not so good as in'th'e caseoffthe saturated acids. 7

In a similar way we have obtained good yields of stearone by substitutingthe metals aluminium, man anese andzinc in a fine state of division or the iron turnings in the above operation.

Havingt-hus described the invention What is claimed is:

1. A process;for higher fatty acid by heating a higher fatty acid with a finely divided metal toa tem-' perature below the temperature of rapid decomposition of the acid employed, until the evolution of carbon dioxidhas'become Very .slow.

cast ironturnings to a tem- 2. A process for preparing'a ketone of a preparing a ketpne of a'- jperature of 300? 0., and then allow the both for paraflin' substitute for naturalflwaxes.

The manufacture proceeds fatty acids which are in and handled urated acid's and ketones, the-yield of the lio .-perature below the tem higher fatty acid by heating a higher fatty acid with a finely divided metal to a temperature below the temperature of rapid de- I composition (in contact with the metal employed) of the ketone desired, until the evolution of carbon dioxid has become very slow. I

3. A process for preparing a ketone of a higher fatty acid by heating a higher fatty acid with finely divided metallic iron to a temperature below the temperature of rapid decomposition of the acid em loyed, until the evoluticn'ofcarbon dioxid has become very slow. v

4. A process for preparing a ketone of a higher fatty acid by heating a higher fatty acid with finel divided'metallic iron to a temperaturebe owthe temperature of rapid d ecomposltion (in contact with metallic i on) of the ketone sought, until the evolution of carbon dioxid has become very slow. ,5. A process for preparing a ketone of a liigher fatty acid by heating a higher fatty acid with metallic iron cuttings to a temcomposition of the aci employed, until the' evolution of carbon dioxid has'become very slow.

higher atty acid by heating a higher fatty acid with metallic iron cuttings to a temperature below the temperature of rapid decomposition (in contact with iron) of the 6. A rocess for preparing a ketone of the 1 ketone sought,'until the evolution of carbon dioxid has become'vcry slow.

7. A process for preparing stearone by heating commercial stearic'acid with iron to a suitable temperature.

8. A process for preparing stearone by heating commercial stearic acid with finely divided iron to a temperature below the temperature of rapid decomposition of stearic acid. until the evolution of carbo dioxid has become very slow.

9. A process for preparmg stearone by heatmg commercial stearlc acid with finely divided iron toa temperature below the tem perature of rapid decomposition (in contact with metallic iron) of stearone, until the evolution of carbon dioxid has become very slow;

, 10. A process for preparing -stearone by heating'commerclal stearic acid with iron cuttings to a temperature below the temperature of rapid decomposition of stearone until the evolutionof carbon dioxid has become very slow. erature of rapid de- In testimony whereof, we have signed our [names to this specification in the presence 0f two subscrlbmg witnesses.

THOMAS HILL EASTERFIELD. CLARA MILLICENT TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

ERNEST SMITH BALDWIN, ANNIE DOROTHY McKnNzm- 

